ATHENS (Reuters) - Almost half of Greek voters want parliament to reject a package of harsh economic reforms that the government has agreed in return for a second international bailout to avoid default, according to an opinion poll.

The poll, in Sunday's edition of To Vima newspaper, showed they also wanted Greece to hold early elections to replace the embattled government of Prime Minister George Papandreou.

The survey was taken before Papandreou reshuffled his government on Friday in an attempt to stiffen resolve to hammer through the reforms.

The European Union and International Monetary Fund have made the reforms a condition for a new emergency loan package worth an estimated 120 billion euros ($170 billion) that Greece will need to avood bankruptcy and fund itself through 2014.

In a nationwide survey of 1,208 voters, 47.5 percent of respondents said they wanted parliament to reject the reform package and for Greece to hold early elections.

Just over a third -- 34.8 percent -- wanted it to be approved so Athens could receive a new loan tranche and secure the second bailout.

Constantinos Routzounis, head of pollsters Kapa Research, said Greeks were not against austerity in itself but thought the reforms were unfairly aimed at the poor while wealthy tax evaders and corrupt politicians got off lightly.

"People don't want Greece to exit the euro zone. They do want fiscal consolidation measures -- but more just ones," he told Reuters.

Kapa conducted the survey on June 14-15.

Papandreou announced a wholesale reshuffle on Friday in a move to quell open dissent in his ruling Socialist Party and push the measures through parliament in the face of weeks of protests that briefly erupted in violence last Wednesday.

Just under 90 percent of those polled said they were not optimistic about the direction in which Greece was heading, but 80 percent favoured being in the euro zone.

Euro zone finance ministers are expected to agree on Sunday to release a 12 billion euro tranche of an existing, year-old bailout loan that Greece needs to pay back debt maturing in July and August.

VIENNA (Reuters) - Japanese nuclear regulators failed to review and approve steps taken after 2002 to protect against tsunamis at the Fukushima plant and these proved insufficient to prevent the disaster three months ago, a U.N. report showed.

Smoke is seen coming from the area of the No. 3 reactor of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Tomioka, Fukushima Prefecture in northeastern Japan in this handout photo distributed by the Tokyo Electric Power Co. on March 21, 2011. (REUTERS/Tokyo Electric Power Co./Files)

A detailed assessment by an expert team from the International Atomic Energy Agency -- the first outside review of Japan's nuclear crisis -- suggested several shortcomings both before and after a tidal wave crippled the power station.

But it also praised the way workers on the ground dealt with the situation at Fukushima Daiichi after the massive earthquake and huge tsunami devastated its reactors on March 11, triggering the world's worst nuclear accident in a quarter of a century.

"The operators were faced with a catastrophic, unprecedented emergency scenario with no power, reactor control or instrumentation," said the 160-page report, prepared for a ministerial nuclear safety meeting in Vienna next week.

It "has at times required exceptional levels of leadership and dedication by workers on the sites and elsewhere".

A three-page summary was issued at the end of the 18-member team's May 24-June 2 inspector mission to Japan. It said the country underestimated the threat from tsunamis to the Fukushima plant and urged sweeping changes to its regulatory system.

Officials in Japan had earlier been criticised for failing to plan for a tsunami that would surge over the 5.7 metre (19-ft) wall at the nuclear power station in the country's northeast, despite forecasts that such a risk was looming.

The wave that crashed into the complex after the 9.0 magnitude earthquake was about 14 metres (46 feet) high.

In a new setback to efforts to restore control over the quake-stricken plant, a rise in radiation halted the clean-up of radioactive water at Fukushima on Saturday only hours after it got under way.

The full IAEA report said there had been "insufficient defence-in-depth provisions" for tsunami hazards, even though they had been considered in the design and siting of the plant operated by Tokyo Electric Power Company, or Tepco.

DECISION DELAYS

Extra protective steps were taken as a result of an evaluation after 2002 -- the projected tsunami height was increased -- but they were not enough "to cope with the high tsunami run-up values and all associated hazardous phenomena".

"Moreover, those additional protective measures were not reviewed and approved by the regulatory authority," said the report. It added: "Severe accident management provisions were not adequate to cope with multiple plant failures."

The document, obtained by Reuters, was submitted to IAEA member states on Friday but has not yet been made public.

At the June 20-24 IAEA-hosted meeting, some 150 nations will begin charting a strategy on boosting global nuclear safety, but differences over how much international action is needed may hamper follow-up efforts, diplomats say.

Japan's crisis has prompted a rethink of energy policy around the world, underlined by Germany's decision to shut down all its reactors by 2022 and an Italian vote to ban nuclear power for decades.

Three reactors at the Japanese complex went into meltdown when power and cooling functions failed, causing radiation leakage and forcing the evacuation of some 80,000 people.

Japanese officials have come under fire for their handling of the emergency and the authorities have admitted that lax standards and poor oversight contributed to the accident.

In 2007, the IAEA was ignored when it called on Japan to create a more powerful and independent nuclear regulator, and the report underlined the need for greater regulatory control.

Japan has a well organised emergency preparedness and response system but "complicated structures and organisations can result in delays in urgent decision making", it added.

The report also listed wider lessons for improving nuclear safety worldwide and help avert any repeat of the disaster, saying reactors should be built so that they can withstand rare and "complex combinations" of external threats.

BENGHAZI, Libya (Reuters) - Rebels waging a drawn-out war to oust Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi have run out of money, their oil chief said on Saturday, and he accused the West of not meeting promises to deliver urgent financial aid.

A rebel fighter stands atop a tank that belonged to forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi following the liberation of the village of Ain Rumaiya in the city of Zintan, southwest of the capital Tripoli June 17, 2011. (REUTERS/Anis Mili)

His comments came as cracks were appearing in the NATO alliance over its 3-month bombing campaign against Gaddafi, with some allies showing mission fatigue and the United States accusing some European allies of failing to pull their weight.

The rebels have made several gains in the past few weeks, but remain far from seizing their ultimate prize -- Gaddafi's powerbase of Tripoli and its hinterland -- despite air support from the world's most powerful military alliance.

"We are running out of everything. It's a complete failure. Either they (Western nations) don't understand or they don't care. Nothing has materialised yet. And I really mean nothing," rebel oil chief Ali Tarhouni said in an interview with Reuters.

At least eight rebels were killed in fighting near the northwestern town of Nalut, a rebel source said, as insurgents sought to press an advance into Gaddafi's heartland that has proven slow despite weeks of NATO air strikes on their behalf.

The gun battles in the village of Takut, just outside Nalut, on Saturday followed exchanges of heavy artillery fire near the city of Zlitan, on the other side of Tripoli, as the insurgents tried to take government-held territory to the east of the city.

Tarhouni's remarks highlight the insurgents' struggle to make ends meet, with war damage to energy infrastructure in their eastern territory having knocked out oil production there.

Western powers have pledged to expand aid by tapping into Libyan assets frozen abroad. But Tarhouni, also the insurgents' finance minister, said they had not followed through.

"All of these people we talk to, all of these countries, at all these conferences, with their great grand speeches -- we appreciate (them) from the political side, but in terms of finances they are a complete failure. Our people are dying," he said.

SHAMBLES

The economy in eastern Libya, where much of the oil that once made Libya a major OPEC exporter came from, is in a shambles. Rebel leaders are struggling to find cash to pay for military operations and salaries in a society where, thanks to the legacy of Gaddafi's centralised rule, most people rely on state wages.

The European Union has pledged financial infusions and the United States, which took a leading role in securing a U.N.-backed no-fly zone over Libya, has promised more aid.

Tarhouni has estimated the rebels were spending up to 100 million Libyan dinars ($86 million) per day.

"I don't expect us to produce oil any time soon. The refineries have no crude oil, so they are not working," he said.

The president of the rebel's transitional council Mustafa Abdel Jalil was in the Tunisian capital on Saturday, for talks with Tunisian government officials.

Tunisian Prime Minister Beji Caid Sebsi's government has made welcoming overtures to the rebel's transitional council but has stopped short of officially recognising them.

"We've gone past that stage," Jalil told Reuters after a news conference. "The fact that we are received here is implicit recognition. Tunisia will play a big role in the future."

The rebels are trying to seal off coastal Tripoli from the east, west and south but their advances have been halting and weeks of NATO strikes pounding Gaddafi's compound and other targets have failed to bring down his 41-year-old rule.

"The battles started yesterday and are continuing today in Takut," a fighter, Abou Saa, told Reuters from Nalut, in arid hills some 200 km (125 miles) southwest of Tripoli.

"The revolutionaries destroyed six armoured vehicles and killed more than 45 enemy soldiers. The rebels surrounded Gaddafi's forces, who are holed up in a compound (in Takut)."

He added that 13 rebels were wounded in the fighting.

The report could not be immediately verified due to a lack of independent media access to the area and there was no immediate comment from Gaddafi's side.

On the other side of Tripoli, rebels are advancing towards Zlitan, 160 km (100 miles) to the east and the next major town on the Mediterranean coastal road to the capital from the rebel stronghold of Misrata. Capturing it would greatly advance the rebels' strategy of cutting off Tripoli from all sides.

A rebel spokesman in Misrata called Mohammed said: "there were skirmishes this morning in the southwest of Misrata in Tawargha," but did not give further details.

Gaddafi's forces periodically fired rockets into the port and refinery area of Misrata on Saturday, killing one woman, her neighbour Ali Salah told Reuters in the city.

The rebels have said they will not attack Zlitan because of local tribal sensitivities, but are recruiting fighters from the town and waiting for the residents to rise up against Gaddafi.

Rebels are also fighting on another front, in the east near the oil port of Brega, 800 km (500 miles) east of Tripoli.

NATO planes resumed bombardments of Tripoli on Friday and there were more explosions on Saturday. State news agency Jana said another bombing had struck the Karama district of Tripoli on Saturday morning but this could not be confirmed immediately.

"The alliance will be defeated," Gaddafi said in an audio speech on Libyan television on Friday. "We are in our country and we are determined to stay and defend it."

Libyan Prime Minister Al-Baghdadi Ali Al-Mahmoudi told a news conference that Libya would appeal to the U.N. Security Council for a halt to NATO's aerial bombings, which he said were increasingly hitting civilian buildings.

A NATO spokeswoman called Libyan reports of civilian casualties caused by air strikes "pure propaganda".

"It is Gaddafi and his regime that have been ..., shelling cities, mining ports and using mosques and children's parks as shields," said alliance spokeswoman Oana Lungescu.

PETALING JAYA: AAP Mazoil Faito Racing team have taken drastic measures to change their fortunes in next weekend's Round 5 of the Petronas AAM Malaysian Cub Prix Championship after failing to earn a single point in the first four rounds.

SEPANG: Unheralded Weider Honda Racing team driver Takashi Kogure turned the formbooks upside down when they got it right in the vital Superlap qualifying session to grab pole position for Round 3 of the Japan Super GT series at Sepang International Circuit yesterday.

Takashi, the team's first driver, blazed his way to the top of the timesheets in 1:55.984. Both Takashi and Loic Duval had taken turns to put the car through the paces in the practice earlier in the morning and indicated their intentions by coming in second.

Takashi again came in second in the first qualifying session with the top 10 fastest cars advancing to the Superlap session.

And the 31-year-old then timed it to perfection to hand his team an unexpected boost after a slow start to the season.

Weider Honda Racing Team are currently in 12th overall position with eight points after the first two rounds.

They are 24 points adrift of leaders Nismo, made up of drivers Satoshi Motoyama and Benoit Treluyer.

"The season has not been too good for us and the car was giving us some problems. But today the car's balance was great and the tyres also were performing well, so we are very happy to start from pole. The entire team did an excellent job," said Kogure, who showed his delight by pumping his fists in the direction of his team's pitbox upon stepping out of the car.

After setting the fastest lap in the first qualifying session, Team Mola settled for second spot on the grid with a lap time of 1:56.371 set by Ronnie Quintarelli.

Keihin Real Racing driver Koudai Tsukakoshi clocked 1:56.710 to put his team third on the grid for the 46-lap race today.

Andre Lotterer and Treluyer, who were team-mates in the winning Audi Team Sport at the prestigious 24 Hours Le Mans race last weekend, failed to shine for their respective teams here.

Lotterer, who drove for Lexus Team Petronas Tom with Kazuki Nakajima, suffered disappointment in what is considered their home race as their best lap of 1:58.472 could only put them 11th on the grid.

"I needed one more lap to get the most out of the tyres but we will fight tomorrow," said Lotterer.

BETHESDA, Maryland (AP) - Rory McIlroy kept punishing the golf course and the record book Saturday, setting himself up with an eight-shot lead at the U.S. Open with 18 holes left between him and his first major championship.

In a third round that felt more like a regular day on tour than the toughest test in golf, McIlroy shot 3-under-par 68 to finish at 14-under 199, breaking Jim Furyk's record for the best 54-hole score by one stroke.

McIlroy leads Y.E. Yang (70) by eight and Lee Westwood (65), Jason Day (65) and Robert Garrigus (68) by nine.

The 22-year-old from Northern Ireland will sleep on the lead heading into the final day of a major for the second straight time. But this lead is double the size of the one he held at the Masters two months ago, when he blew up on the back nine, shot 80 and finished 15th. "Overall, I'm very happy with the way I played today," McIlroy said. "Now, I just have to do that for 18 more holes." Knowing their chances were slim to catch the leader, the rest of the field took its frustration out on Congressional, a soft course thanks to forgiving rough and rain-soaked greens.

There were 26 rounds under par, a record for the third round of the U.S. Open, and the 72 players carded a total of 224 birdies. It could have been a scary scene for McIlroy, who saw the mid-60s on the board before he ever reached the first tee box, but he didn't waver.

He played scrambling golf over the first few holes, while he was having trouble finding the fairway, then made birdies on No. 5, 9, 11 and 14 to get to 14-under, a number never seen before on a U.S. Open scoreboard. Of course, that's old news by now. On Friday, McIlroy reached 13 under for the first time in U.S. Open history and took a record-tying six-stroke cushion into the weekend. His eight-shot advantage is two short of the lead Tiger Woods took to Sunday at Pebble Beach in 2000, when he routed the field by 15 shots. Though McIlroy is drawing comparisons to Woods, he wants no part of it.

"I'm still looking for my first one," McIlroy said. "That's all I can say. I'm looking for my first one. I put myself in good position to do it tomorrow and we'll see what happens."

The way he's playing, and with a cushion as soft as the golf course he's overrunning, it would take something of epic proportions to prevent it. The rest of the players realize that.

"When you go in 12 behind somebody, you can play as well as you'd like to play but it's still going to be a matter of the leader coming back to you," Westwood said. "No use thinking about what Rory's doing. But I've played with big leads in the past. It's not easy. We'll see what happens." McIlroy did, in fact, make a bogey on No. 10 after hitting his tee shot on the par-3 into a back bunker. But he came back on No. 11, hitting an approach shot from the rough to 18 feet, then sinking the putt and fist pumping as he walked to grab the ball from the hole. That put him back at 13-under par. On 14, he hit his approach to 6 feet and made that.

On the front side, McIlroy wasn't nearly as locked in early Saturday as he was during the first two rounds, when he set the 36-hole U.S. Open scoring record at 11-under 131. He missed fairways on 1, 3, 8 and 9 on the front side and pushed his approach into a greenside bunker on No. 4. But he made par or better on all those holes and his lead - six shots at the beginning of the day - never shrank. The tone was set early, when Webb Simpson shot 5-under 66 to move to 1 under.

"The golf course is pretty soft. The greens are soft," said Simpson, who made seven birdies. "I got a couple good lies in the rough today that I probably didn't deserve. I think you'll see some pretty good scores like mine, and some pretty high scores, too."

The USGA prides itself on setting up the toughest courses on the planet. But Congressional hasn't lived up to that reputation. All the players knew it, even the ones who weren't taking advantage.

"The rough isn't quite as gnarly as at some other U.S. Opens," world No. 1 Luke Donald said after shooting 3-over 74. "It has a different feel. It almost feels like the Firestone or something. But it's still tough out there. Some tough pins and you've got to play well to shoot a good score."

Day was among those with the good scores. The 23-year-old, who finished second at the Masters, didn't make a bogey and finished the day with a birdie on No. 18.

He scoffed at the idea that everyone but McIlroy was playing for second. But as the day wore on and McIlroy's play kept getting better, the inevitable was starting to set in.

"He's playing awesome," said Sergio Garcia, whose 2-under par would be in contention during most years at the U.S. Open. "I would expect him to play the same way tomorrow and probably win."

After peaking out at RM4.64 on Oct 3, 2007, it reversed slightly due to an apparent profit-taking activity. The breather was necessary at this stage due to an overbought reason but what was seen as a typical correction process turned ugly later, as continuous liquidation pressure dampened sentiment, thus pulling prices to a low of RM1.34 in late May this year, the worst since April 1999.

Thereafter, they drifted sideways on bargain hunting interest offsetting selling which saw the shares ending up four sen to RM1.43 yesterday.

Based on the daily bar chart, it looks like this blue chip counter have found the bottom after a long bearish phase. Perhaps, investors can consider accumulating some shares now.

The oscillator per cent K and the oscillator per cent D of the daily slow-stochastic momentum index were seen inching up gradually from the grossly oversold area after triggering a short-term buy yesterday. Similarly, the 14-day relative strength index improved moderately from a reading of 26 to settle at the 55 points level yesterday.

The daily moving average convergence/divergence histogram kept expanding upward against the daily signal line to retain the positive note. It had issued a buy a week ago. Technically, indicators suggest a steadier trend in the short term.

Initial resistance is expected at the 50-day simple moving average (SMA) of RM1.66, followed by the 100-day SMA of RM1.80. A push above the next upper hurdle of RM2 mark, which is the 200-day SMA, would give investors the confirmation of a bullish turnaround.

Trailing exit is pegged at the recent lows of RM1.34. ● The comments above do not represent a recommendation to buy or sell.

REVIEW:Bursa Malaysia started out on a soft platform, with the FBM Kuala Lumpur Composite Index (FBM KLCI) dropping a significant 4.48 points to 1,551.71, as investors took the excuse of the lack of fresh market-stimulating leads to lock in profit following gains in the previous session.

A lower overnight US markets, which saw the Dow sagging 172.45 points to 11,951.91 and the crude oil sinking US$2.64 to US$99.29 the previous Friday on growing worries about the health of the global economy and on Saudi Arabia's offer of more oil to Asian refiners respectively, added to the downbeat note.

Elsewhere, a generally frail performance in Asian equities on growing concerns about a slowdown in the Chinese economy pressured the local bourse, prompting the local players to exercise caution in their trading approach.

Mirroring the negative offshore trend, the key index drifted deeper into the red on follow-through selling to close at the day's low of 1,545.88, down 10.31 points on Monday.

The index's settlement at the day's ebb was interpreted a bearish sign and it usually will open the doors for more downward spiral, but in an unprecedented move, Bursa avoided the beating, as a pretty flat-to marginally steadier finish in overnight Wall Street provided a degree of comfort for the big funds to seek value buys.

Though there was a bit of stability on the broad front, the upside appeared capped, with sluggish regional peers and falling oil prices weighing on the local sentiment.

In the absence of solid buying, the FBM KLCI traded range-bound to marginally higher, between an intra-day high and low of 1,551.83 and 1,543.56 respectively before ending at 1,548.61, gaining 2.63 points in mixed note on Tuesday.

In another sideways to moderately firmer bias showing, the key index scaled in a snail pace from the 1,547.92 in early deals to settle at 1,556.19, up 7.68 points on Monday, tracking the firmer overnight Wall Street.

After two days of calm, global markets sentiment turned for the worse in the wake of fresh selling, as renewed worries intensified that Greece's debt troubles were worsening, stoking contagion fears. Adding to investor unease, Moody's threatened large French banks with possible downgrades.

With overnight Wall Street resuming the downward momentum, diving a hefty 1.48% and Asian equities joining the liquidation spree, the local bourse succumbed to tremendous stress to retreat but unlike the overseas peers, losses on the home front were marginal, as light accumulation on weakness somewhat helped cushion the downside.

At Thursday's closing bell, the key index eased only 1.95 points to 1,554.24 in a generally band trading.

Yesterday, the local bourse staged a mild recovery, up 9.19 points to 1.563.43, encouraged by a modest rebound in Wall Street overnight.

Statistics: Week-on-week, the principal index advanced 7.24 points, or 0.5% to 1,563.43 yesterday, compared with 1,556.19 on June 10.

Total turnover for the week amounted to 4.121 billion shares worth RM7.805bil, against 3.674 billion units valued at RM6.608bil done a week ago.

Technical indicators: The oscillator per cent K and the oscillator per cent D of the daily slow-stochastic momentum index scaled higher to close at approximately 81% and 61% respectively yesterday.

Also on the rise, the 14-day relative strength index improved moderately from the 45 points level on Monday to 64 points yesterday.

The daily moving average convergence/divergence histogram had indicated a positive convergence pictogram and on the verge of flashing a buy signal.

Weekly indicators were tricky, with the weekly slow-stochastic momentum index flashing a tentative sell at the overbought area and the weekly MACD making an attempt to climb over the weekly trigger line.

Market actions indicated the bulls were eager to ascent after the recent breather but they found the path a little bumpy for a decent march, as prevailing external uncertainty, particularly concerns over the eurozone lingering debt crisis and the expectations of further monetary tightening in China kept investors on edge.

In the absence of concrete backing from investors to spark a rally, it appears the local bourse is likely to be trapped in the short term, pending clearer picture to emerge and this may mean range-bound trade this week.

Technically, the improving landscape suggest the FBM KLCI may be sideways, with a mild upward bias in the immediate term.

To the upside, the near-term objective would be to challenge the all-time peak of 1,576.95, established on Jan 6.

Support is envisaged at the 50-day simple moving average (SMA) of 1,540, followed by the 100-day SMA of 1,528 and the next, at 1,511, which is the 200-day SMA.

Future generations will have to get used to living in a box in the sky.

The past six months have seen a deluge of property advertisements in the Friday, Saturday and Sunday newspaper issues. There are eager buyers out there, still.

And this interest will probably continue until the end of this year, notwithstanding the growing worries in Europe and the US and the bubble-like scenario in China and Hong Kong.

When it comes to property investment, a buyer's first option will always be for landed units.

But as a former head of mortgage of a local bank lamented, of late, launches of landed properties have been few and far between. They are either very pricey or out of the way from the mainstream city life (or both). But despite the issue of price and location, landed units continue to be popular.

In April, the KL Kepong group launched the first phase of Bandar Seri Coalfields in Sungai Buloh, Selangor. About 40 units of 22 ft by 75 ft and 72 units of 24 ft by 75 ft double-storey housing priced from RM308,000 and RM348,000 respectively were put on sale. A total of 112 units were released into the market.

It was so popular that the remaining 107 and 56 units of the respective sizes were soon put up for sale at increased prices starting from RM328,000 and RM368,000 respectively, representing an increase of 6.5% and 5.7%.

Altogether, a total of 340 units were launched on two separate occasions in the first phase sale of this new township.

Over in Setia Alam, Shah Alam, one of Malaysia's largest developers, SP Setia Bhd, launched double storey cluster housing (30 ft by 55 ft) last Saturday, priced from RM568,000. A ballot was organised for the 116 units. Over in Klang, IOI Properties sold about half of its 128 units of freehold two-storey terrace houses in Bandar Puteri, Klang priced from RM468,800. This project was launched in April. The unsold ones are located close to the highway or junctions. Over in Desa ParkCity, despite a price tag of RM2.8mil, The Mansions by Perdana ParkCity Sdn Bhd proved to be highly popular. A ballot was also organised for this.

Although they were sold as terraced link houses, they were not of the same category as those launched in Sg Buloh and Shah Alam, as the ParkCity offerings have built-ups averaging from 5,000 to 6,000 sq ft. They have the space of semi-detached houses although they were sold as linked terrace housing located in a niche housing development.

A single feature linked all the above four launches; they are landed units and other than the Klang project, they were all sold in a jiffy, despite the high price tag and the fact that some of these properties are located in Sg Buloh.

When it comes to the sale of landed units, the strategy taken by developers today is different from that used several years ago.

Today, a small number of units are released, which gives the developer the opportunity to increase prices if the demand is good. Gone are the days when developers of townships launch 800 units of landed houses at one go with a single price structure.

KL Kepong's Bandar Seri Coalfields is a township of about 1,000 acres. This will take years to complete. SP Setia's Setia Alam is also a township of considerable size.

Over at ParkCity, at less than 500 acres, it is not a township but a small community that will have a population of about 7,000 in the future. However, other than using a different strategy in order to have better profit margins on the part of developer, there is also the need to look at quality as cost of construction increases. Buyers will have to look out for that.

There are a lot of things which house buyers do not see when they view a dressed-up' show unit.

These include the wiring, plumbing and what's inside the plastered walls. Because of the buoyant demand today, there is the temptation to cut corners on the part of the developers as they go for better profit margins. However, there are also developers, who, having made their name and created a brand, will provide quality, which they charge buyers for and this is fair.

From a consumer's point of view, it is better to be charged for a product or service of quality, than to have to pay for the lack of it later.

Once the price for landed units goes beyond the means of most, buyers will then consider high rise condominium units. Already, we are seeing quite a few very high end, high rise condominiums being promoted today. In Taman Tun Dr Ismail, Kuala Lumpur, a project will be launched soon, where a 1,500 sq ft box in the sky is expected to cost RM1.9mil; fully-furnished right down to the built-in microwave.

While all of us have seen the prices of landed units surge in the last 18 months, the time may have come for us to see prices go up for high rise condominium projects too.

A condominium project, with units averaging 2000 sq ft in Segambut Dalam, with high-tension cables splicing across half of the project and the NKVE at one end, were quicky sold at a price averaging half a million ringgit. The finishing and the sanitary and plumbing system were not of a high quality either and little can be said about the location.

Just because of the sharp demand for properties and as landed units in the Klang Valley become scarce, it is hoped that the quality of construction and materials used will not be compromised, both for landed and high rise residencies; especially, when the residency comes in a box in the sky.

Assistant news editor Thean Lee Cheng believes that quality workmanship and after-sales service are crucial if the property sector is to set new benchmarks.

Title: As China Goes, So Goes the WorldAuthor: Karl GerthPublisher: Hill and Wang

CHINA is vast, so is its pool of wealthy and hungry consumers. The Chinese consumers have taken merely a few years to achieve what took consumers of developed countries decades to learn – how to spend. Collectively, Chinese consumers are often touted as saviours of global economy.

Their global omnipresence and their increasing hunger for goods can easily ward off recession worldwide.

That reputation and status should make the Chinese people, who are often seen striding forward proudly in shopping malls around the world, proud. But Karl Gerth, a scholar of modern Asia, thinks they should, instead, be worried.

Chinese consumerism, since unleashed as a catalyst for long-term economic growth, has begotten consequences that beget even more consequences, radically affecting and transforming the Chinese society as well as the world.

While China is often thought of as a major producer of goods, it is as a consumer that the Chinese population is at risk. Imagine what happens when more than a billion people start to take shopping very seriously and believe that it is their possessions that define their status in the society.

Exotic desires

As they go out literally snatching whatever that they desire without caring much about how exotic their desires have become, the Chinese consumers are causing a myriad of problems – counterfeit goods, extreme markets for babies, organs as well as endangered animals, human trafficking, and environmental degradation. This consequences damage goodwill of capitalism at best and threaten humanity at worse.

The most distinguishing feature of the Chinese counterfeit market is the lack of any. In no way can one differentiate between a real LV handbag from a fake one.

Moreover, the variety of fakes for sale in China has moved beyond luxury goods; shampoos, soaps, powdered milk, and even lifesaving drugs have their own demonic fakes to fight against.

Worst yet, there is no genuine curtailing efforts from the authority because the fake market has grown to account for nearly 8% of China's GDP, and has helped to employ between three and five million people.

A fine writer possessing a highly likeable prose, Karl Gerth clearly has a deep understanding of China and its consumerism.

As he picks and chooses from a wide range of historic and political aspects that have made China a country it is now, Gerth enlightens and surprises.

Capitalism

That Taiwan, of all country, was the first to teach China capitalism is surprising. On the contrary, it is unsettling to know that it is the Chinese government that is pushing their population to consume in order to keep the economy buoyant. This strategy, Gerth fears and you will too, if you read this book.

For how long will the buying last? How unruly these Chinese consumers have become in their constant attempts to fulfill their insatiable desires. Not forgetting the irresponsibility of manufacturers running amok in search of goods to skate the thirst of their customers. We should all fret.

Wildlife decimated, babies born and sold, rural women trafficked into cities, humans killed for their healthy organs, are just a few attrocities .

The environment has already been compromised and its impact spill over across the Chinese borders to other countries. Trees are felled illegally in Siberia and fouled water flows through polluted cities to India.

Internally, the challenges created by wealth inequality and rapidly changing social dynamics are equally worrisome.

Ordinary Chinese despises the rich, who have amassed their wealth at the expense of many.

Resentment may become widespread hatred, which, if unguarded, will turn into harassment, extortion, murder and social unrest.

Gerth is not polemic. Neither is he refuting China's importance in the global economy.

His central message is to examine "the complexity of the issues involved" and projects China's irrationality as "a land of staggering contradictions."

Rich and poor

China is both very rich and very poor (with nearly half a billion citizens living on less than two dollars a day, while it is also the leading creditor nation for the United States). It is also both black and green (the world's worst carbon polluter and the biggest green energy producer of wind and solar power).

The Chinese are aware of problems caused by consumerism, but are reluctant to take efforts to limit them.

These contradictions will go on and as China goes, so goes the world.

This claim, just as the title of the book, sounds hyperbolic, but if you think about China's vastness, it perhaps is not by much.

As for the book, though it is rather slim on solutions, it is an important read for all for if you do not think about China, then what are you thinking of these days?

Unfair Advantage: The power of financial educationAuthor:Robert T. KiyosakiPublisher:Plata Publishing

AUTHOR Robert Kiyosaki writes about the path to creating the life you want for yourself and your family and encourages you to change the one thing that is within your control – Yourself! He writes about the importance of knowledge, taxes, debt, risk and compensation. He writes that the decade from 2010 to 2020 will prove to be the most volatile in world history and those who cling to the relics of the past – job security, savings and a retirement plan – will be the most ravaged by the global financial storm.

AN inspirational book on staying on top in business, how to work smarter, not harder and how to bring out the best in your team so you have lots more free time. Author Simon Tupman writes for entrepreneurs from all sectors. An entrepreneur himself with a consultancy-based company, he writes with the objective of helping readers to connect with customers, colleagues and employees in order to create a better personal life.

China Inside OutAuthor:Bill DodsonPublisher:John Wiley & Sons

AUTHOR Bill Dodson presents stories of the average Chinese workers, along with interviews with topical experts, interlaced with his own experiences. The end result is an insider's view into the forces shaping China as it elbows the US and Europe aside. China has the largest middle class in the world, the largest internet user, the largest army. It is also the largest polluter, all with consequences on humanity.

KLANG: The Selangor state government spent RM15mil on propaganda and publicity, an amount higher than the RM1.8mil spent by the Tourism Ministry for social media advertising, said Selangor MCA.

Its publicity chief Dr Kow Cheong Wei said the state government must explain in detail where the money had gone to.

He said the RM15mil allocation was approved in Budget 2010 to spend on publicity and to promote the state government.

"In July 26 last year, Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim had announced that the Selangor government had set aside RM15mil to counter Barisan Nasional and that the amount would be used to establish Selangor's own radio station.

"However, to date these programmes are yet to be seen," said Dr Kow in a statement.

Dr Kow, who is Selangor MCA Youth chief, said Pakatan Rakyat was using the people's money for its own gain.

"DAP conveniently criticises the Tourism Ministry for spending RM1.8mil for social media advertising, but they themselves use up to 10 times the amount spent just to let the people know who their Mentri Besar is.

BEAUFORT: The opposition is hiding behind Bersih with a plot to topple the government through organising a rally, said Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

He said the opposition's agenda was to create a momentum among the people to hate the government by raising various issues beyond the call for clean and fair elections.

"They are trying to use street demonstrations against the government to achieve their road to Putrajaya,'' Muhyiddin told reporters after opening the annual meeting of Beaufort Umno.

Muhyiddin said that if the elections had not been free and fair, how could the opposition win so many parliamentary seats and four state governments in 2008.

"If it is not free and fair, how could they make electoral gains. If they win they keep quiet and if they lose they claim unfairness, why the double standards. I think their motive is a short cut to Putrajaya," he said.

PUTRAJAYA: AirAsia received all the publicity and endorsement for its phenomenal growth in over a decade from none other than Malaysia's visionary leader Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

The former prime minister had suggested that AirAsia fly to African countries, saying that the world's fastest growing low-cost carrier was capable of boosting travel and trade between Kuala Lumpur and the continent.

He said this in his keynote address at the Malaysia-Africa Business Forum here Saturday in the run-up to the three-day Langkawi International Dialogue 2011.

NEW YORK (AP): Michael Douglas' ex-wife has lost a bid in New York to revive her quest for half his "Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps" earnings. Manhattan state Supreme Court Judge Matthew F. Cooper reiterated in a ruling Thursday that the dispute belongs in California, where the couple divorced in 2000 after 23 years together. The judge threw out Diandra Douglas' suit in November, but she asked him to reconsider.

Michael Douglas' lawyer said she hopes this will end the litigation. Diandra Douglas' lawyer didn't immediately respond to email messages but has said she will appeal the decision.

Diandra Douglas says a provision in the couple's divorce deal entitles her to half the actor's proceeds from last year's follow-up to 1987's "Wall Street." He says it does not.

ALTINOZU, Turkey (AP) - UN envoy Angelina Jolie traveled to Turkey's border with Syria on Friday, sharing fruit and dessert with some of the thousands of Syrian refugees who have fled their government's bloody crackdown.

The Hollywood celebrity and goodwill ambassador for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees arrived in the Turkish province of Hatay on a private jet with boxes of toys for the refugee camps and visited one of the three refugee camps in Turkey, where nearly 10,000 Syrians have sought refuge.

Jolie spent two-and-a-half hours with about 1,700 refugees at a camp in Altinozu, 20 kilometers (12 miles) away from the Syrian border, asking how they were in Arabic and then speaking with them through an interpreter, Turkey's NTV television reported. It said she took notes, showing particular interest in the women and children.

"The people in this camp have fled in fear for their lives, and many told me they were distraught about the safety of loved ones still in Syria." Jolie said in a UNHCR statement.

Jolie met with one woman who managed to leave Syria heavily pregnant, and has since given birth to her child in the camp, the statement said. She told how her husband had been killed. Another distraught woman told Jolie how she was sick with worry about the fate of her husband still in Syria and unable to cross the border.

"The woman claimed her husband was one of many, too afraid to cross," Jolie added.

The American actress praised Turkey for welcoming the refugees, saying it is critical in these situations that people have access to safety.

"I am really grateful for the open-door policy of Turkey in allowing these people to enter and the assurances that there will be no forced returns," she said.

A mob of children chanted "look who is here", and "welcome, welcome" as they pushed forward to shake Jolie's hand, the statement said. Many had slogans such as "freedom" painted on their foreheads.

"I appreciate the opportunity to visit this camp and talk to these families," Jolie said. "It is a really complex situation and everyone needs to be doing all they can for the innocent families caught in the crossfire. I will be following this situation very closely and doing everything I can."

Jolie praised Turkey for showing "tremendous generosity to the thousands fleeing Syria" and the Turkish Red Crescent, the Muslim equivalent of the Red Cross, for setting up camps very quickly and providing medical and other care.

The UNHCR said it "stands ready to assist if the situation starts to escalate."

Protests first erupted in Syria in mid-March as part of the "Arab Spring" push toward democracy. Syrian President Bashar Assad responded by unleashing the military to crush the street demonstrations. Human rights activists say more than 1,400 Syrians have been killed and 10,000 detained.

Turkish television showed Jolie disembarking from the plane in sunglasses at Hatay airport. She then headed to a camp in Altinozu.

Turkish authorities hoisted a 45-foot-long (15-meter) banner near the entrance of the refugee camp to welcome Jolie. It read: "Goodness Angel of the World, Welcome" in English and Turkish.

An anti-Syria protest broke out at the camp hours before Jolie arrived in a gray van with tinted-windows. Protesters could be seen carrying a white coffin with that read "The Society of Arab states" on one side and "The Conscience of Russia and China" on the other.

They waved Turkish and Syrian flags and held up banners that said: "Stop the killing of children and the destruction of mosques." They could also be heard shouting messages of thanks for Turkey.

Police kept both fans and media away from the actress at Hatay's airport and most cameras were removed from rooftops and high points.

One fan held a poster that read: "Angelina, kiss me for world peace." Hundreds of people, mostly women, climbed rooftops and crowded balconies and waited under scorching sun for hours to catch a glimpse of her.

Jolie waved at her fans before getting back into the van to be driven to the airport in a security motorcade.

In April, Jolie traveled to Tunisia during its refugee crisis as thousands fled from its war-torn neighbor, Libya.

Lavanya at the Temple of Fine Arts in Brickfields is holding a sale featuring a range of exclusive silk, cotton sarees and the Mangalam collection of elegant ornaments till June 19 from 10am to 9pm. Customers can enjoy special privileges upon purchase. For details, call 03-2273 1330.

Concerts draw

The Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra (MPO) will charm audiences in its upcoming concerts at Dewan Filharmonik PETRONAS (DFP) under the leadership of young Hong Kong-born conductor Perry So, breathing fresh new interpretations on symphonic works on June 18 at 8.30pm and June 19 at 3pm. The concerts are aptly themed Perry So's Prokofiev. For bookings, call 03- 2051 7007 or fax to 03- 2051 7077, or e-mail dfp_boxoffice@petronas.com.my

Art exhibition

NN Gallery in Ampang is holding an art exhibition entitled 'Passage' by Suhaidi Razi, starting from June 18 to July 9. The first solo exhibition will present paintings, metal sculptures, printmaking and woodcarving. For detail, call 03 4270 6588 (Zul / Kokila).

Shopping carnival

In conjunction with Malaysia's Mega Sale Carnival, 1 Utama Shopping Centre has kicked off his shopping carnival with attractive discounts and bargains at its retail stores from now till Sept 1. The mall will be giving away free gifts for redemption under its Mega Sale "Shop For Exciting Rewards!". To redeem, shoppers need only spend RM200 and above for a Tier 1 gift (limited to 250 units on weekdays and 500 on weekends and public holidays) and RM600 and above for a Tier 2 gift (limitedto 300 units on weekdays and 550 on weekends and public holidays) – in a single receipt on the same day of purchase. For details, visit www.1utama.com.my or www.onecard.com.my.

Charity carnival

KDU University College Section 13 Petaling Jaya is hosting Xtramilerun Charity Carnival at KDU Section 13 PJ campus on June 18 from 8.30am to 1pm. Blog shops and other vendors would be participating in it. For details, email to hcfoo@kdu.edu.my or call 012-3720858 (Foo).

ABOUT PARENTING

CLM Counselling and Care is holding two workshops that will help parents in raising healthy and resilient children and youths on June 18 at the centre. The first workshop on parenting starts from 9.30am to 1pm, while the second workshop on nurturing youths is from 2pm to 5.30pm. For details, call 03-7710 3360.

Hospice training

Kasih Hospice Care Society is organising a Basic Hospice Training to create awareness of hospice care and to recruit and train new volunteers on June 18 and 19, 2.30pm to 6.30pm and 9am to 5.30pm respectively. Topics covered are hospice care, responsibilities and boundaries of Hospice volunteers, effective communication and basic nursing care. For details, call 03 -7960 7424 Sally).

Sudoku talk

The Malaysia Sudoku Society will conduct a talk entitled 'How the Japanese Solve Sudoku', at 3pm on June 18 at Bangunan Secita, 4A Jalan SS5D/6, Kelana Jaya. All Sudoku players and fans are welcomed to attend (FOC). Come and join the fun of solving Sudoku! For details, contact yeedian@streamyx.com or 012-234 1492.

Tribute gathering

The Assunta Alumni is hosting the annual "Assunta Breakfast with Teachers" on June 18 from 9am to 12noon at the Assunta Secondary School Canteen as a tribute to former and current teachers of Assunta Secondary School. It will be attended by founding headmistress Datin Paduka Sister Enda. For reservations, contact 012-3981179 (Angie) or 016-2600100 (Teresa) or email to assuntaalumnitreasurer@gmail.com.

Fundraising concert

SK Subang Jaya in SS14, Subang Jaya, is holding a fundraising concert June 18 at 8pm, to help two of their pupils through their difficult times of fighting leukemia . The concert, which will feature performances by students from the schools in the area including SK Subang Jaya, SK USJ12, SMK SS17 and SK Sri Selangor, aims to raise at least RM30,000 to help the two young sufferers. Making a special appearance is local music star Zainal Abidin. For details, call 012-6946422 (Aslamiah) or 019-6131739 (Siti).

SELANGOR defied the odds to win the two gold medals at stake in the Malaysia Games kabaddi competition at the Olympic Hall in Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS) recently.

This time around, Selangor, having won the men and women's gold medals at the 2010 Malaysia Games in Malacca, were not hailed as the favourites. They were also not given a chance when the draw was conducted.

In the men's section, Selangor were drawn in Group A with Malacca, Penang and Johor; Negri Sembilan, Sarawak, Perak and Federal Territories are together in Group B, while Kedah, Pahang and Perlis are in Group C.

However, Penang did not show up for the competition. Interestingly, Negri Sembilan, the favourites, were disqualified when they could not assemble seven players as required by the competition rules, for their final group match against Perak.

Selangor started their campaign on a right note when they defeated Malacca 71-24 and then went on to thrash Johor 49-17.

In the women's section, Selangor, despite being the defending champions, were in Group A with Malacca, Penang and Sarawak. They marched into the second round with convincing wins over Malacca (78-17), Penang (60-26) and Sarawak (65-22).

After the three group matches, the top two teams from each group advanced to second round.

Selangor and FT qualified for the both the men and women's finals.

In the men's final, Selangor, with Gabriel Johnson and S. Thiagu playing an inspiring role, were simply too good for FT. The Selangor athletes powere to a 35-20 win the gold medal.

But there were some anxious moments for Selangor in the women's final. FT had the edge at the halfway mark. But Selangor's G. Balajothi, Norhaslinda Masrawi and P. Shahilah gave a determined performance to turn the table on FT with a 35-27 win.

In the men's category, the bronze medal went to Johor and Kedah while Penang and Johor won the bronze in the women's category.

Selangor coach R. Akilan said it was team effort that earned them the double.

"The seniors from both the men and women's teams were the pillars and guided the juniors. We also have to thank three seniors - A. Sathya, J. Komathi and P. Sasitharan - for their assistance in motivating the players,'' said Akilan.

The Selangor Sports Council (MSNS) and State Exco of Women's Affairs, Welfare, Science Technology, Innovation and Culture Rodziah Ismail each rewarded RM300 to every player in the Selangor team.

Rodziah was impressed with the players' performance and praised the Kabaddi Association of Selangor (KAS) for preparing a strong contingent for the Malaysia Games.